I wrote a post late last winter about my "swimming glasses". It got a lot of interest and feedback. I've spent an awful lot of time swimming this summer. Lots of jumping and diving off the back of the boat, and tons of time at the beach with the kids. Even as summer sadly starts to show it's age up here in the Great White North, I'm still trying to get in as much as I can and planning for a few trips over the winter to places with pools and water parks. I like the water.

I used to wear contacts swimming, but lost a few over the years -- back when they were expensive. Also, it's no fun driving home with only one good eye.

Anyway, I still love the idea of swimming glasses for a lot of what I do, but a few weeks ago, I was at the lake and there were about a half dozen enormous catfish swimming around in the swimming area. I'd have loved to be able to see them -- from beneath the surface.

It got me to thinking about the "prescription" swim goggles someone mentioned back then. I use quotes around "prescription" as they might be your prescription if your sphere measurement isn't a X.25 or X.75 (the economical versions are only available in half and whole numbers). Also, unless you want to spend significantly more, don't have an astigmatism more than a few degrees off of 0 or else you're going to be really uncomfortable.

I poked around and came up with a few options for those of you in the need. Each model allows for different prescription strength in each eye -- can you imagine that some DO NOT?

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Swimming goggles? Ira, it's almost September! Shouldn't you have written this in, say, May?

So my timing's off a bit. I should indeed have written this earlier in the summer, but I'm planning on still getting some swimming done over the winter -- and hopefully outdoors over the next few weeks.

They were giant though! Fascinating to be able to get close to them -- with the huge passenger jets flying only a few hundred feet over our heads at MSP. Need to be able to see IN and OUT of the water.

Great post, and something I desperately needed, because I end up swimming blindly. Also, I always *start* swimming in September, since all of the tots are back in school and it's less crowded. So I'm glad this was posted now!

I second the Aquagoggles suggestion by Pythonic as I ordered a pair that I'm quite happy with.

While researching this topic when summer started I found that the usual type of goggles work by creating a vacuum or suction on your eye sockets. The only other alternative I found was Barracuda's "Positive Pressure Seal Goggles" which use a sponge which supposedly conforms to the shape of your face and doesn't leave you with a ring around your eyes.

http://www.skylinenw.com

The only problem being that they cost at least twice as much as the solutions you've pointed out here and I found varying comments that they either worked great or didn't hold a seal well enough. Plus you can't get them in separate prescription diopters for each eye (they have to be the same strength for both eyes). Unless of course you call for custom made prescription, which I'm sure are much more costly.

I just got a pair of Aquagoggles and, like Pythonic Avocado and Disco Bubba, I'm very happy with them! Here are a few more details: Aquagoggles come in separate R and L prescriptions up to -10 diopters (myopia only), are fully assembled, and shipped in a hard, clear plastic case like Eyebuydirect. They have UVA-UVB protection and anti-fog coating, and cost only $23.95 plus 6.95 s&h.

Thanks for this post! I have been looking for prescription swim goggles for my son for a while, but the places I've found either had no kids goggles or only had Myopia lenses. You post pointed me to a place that has affordable goggles for hyperopia. I'm looking forward to him being able to see while swimming!

Great question. I have a moderate astigmatism and these work fine for me. Would I want to wear them all day? Not a chance, but I can see when I'm in the water. They were another slight financial risk that has paid off great.

Saving the WorldfromOverpriced Eyeglasses!

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